Ashfords appoints new corporate head as deal volume grows

UK law firm Ashfords has appointed Partner Rory Suggett as head of the firm’s corporate team.  Rory takes over the role from Andrew Betteridge who continues as the firm’s wider commercial services division head and Executive Board member.  Rory starts the role with immediate effect  

Rory has been at Ashfords since 2007. He has extensive experience in venture capital, private equity and M&A, acting for companies and institutional investors as they seek to scale businesses as well as serial acquirers. Recent experience includes acting on the sale of Simply Cook to Nestle and acting for the private equity backed AlphaPet Ventures GmbH on the acquisition of the renowned pet food brand Arden Grange .

Ashfords new Corporate Head, Rory Suggett, commented:  “It will be a privilege leading such a talented and hard working team. The last year has seen very strong activity levels and the team has helped clients deliver a number of stand-out transactions such Pennon’s  acquisition of Bristol Water for an enterprise value of over £800m as well as Form 3’ $160m Series C investment led by Goldman Sachs. I’m looking forward to building on this platform and working with our fantastic clients as they look to the future.”

Ashfords was recognised by Experian MarketIQ as one of 2021’s most active legal advisers by volume in the South West and in the UK top 20– a position it maintained in the first quarter of 2022. The firm was also the only South West headquartered firm to rank by deal value in the South West in 2021, demonstrating the team’s increasing profile in the mid-market both regionally and nationally.

The firm’s corporate team has also expanded over the last few years. Kim Hawkins joined as a partner having previously been GC at an energy infrastructure fund and partner Andy Young joined from Herbert Smith Freehills. Ex Notion Capital GC Jon Groves and ex-BUPA M&A lawyer Tom Storey both rejoined the team from in-house positions.